Chaos im Camp (1987)

Chaos im Camp: Directed by John R. Cherry III. With Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, John Vernon, Iron Eyes Cody. Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance councilor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents as well as stop a shady strip mining company from closing the camp.

“Ernestu0026#39;s summer camp adventure is actually his second feature-length adventure after he began life in TV commercials (not a lot of people know he actually starred in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam the year before), and itu0026#39;s fairly standard mid-80s family fare.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe clumsy handyman (played, by the late, ever appealing Jim Varney) gets a job as a counselor for delinquent kids who are having trouble fitting in with the more privileged lot. Through pain and pranks he manages to build their confidence. A very tacked-on subplot about an evil businessman wanting scam the Indian camp owner in order to mine the area into oblivion builds to a moderately entertaining climax as Ernest and the kids revolt.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt reminded me a lot of Meatballs and Bushwhacked (both better films) and while itu0026#39;s shot for the big screen (in lovely anamorphic Panavision) John Cherry still directs like itu0026#39;s for TV, and clearly should have done more takes and rehearsals. I doubt kids will notice or care, but it gives the film the rushed feel of a TV production.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWorth watching, if only just once.”